HEATHLAND SCHOOL Fire Policy and Risk Assessment Policy reviewed January 2018 Policy presented to Directors/Senior Management Team (SLT)- January 2018 Due for review January 2020 General Information This risk assessment has been prepared under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. This legislation requires that every employer carry out a fire risk assessment that covers the risk of a fire occurring and the risk to people in the event of a fire. The aim of the risk assessment is to provide guidance as to the general and procedural fire precautions which you need to provide. This will help to reduce but not eliminate risks to life. Only those risks deemed significant are identified. Description of building The site consists of several buildings: the main building housing the junior department; the art rooms; the laboratories; the kitchens; and the dining room. The main building is an old Mansion with three storeys and a cellar. The rooms on each floor are off a corridor. There are two staircases. All doors onto the staircases are fire doors (including classrooms where applicable). The two staircases are separated by two fire doors. The building has a fire alarm. There are numerous fire call points and many portable fire extinguishers located throughout the building. The Nursery (EYFS) buildings are located in the old coach house and stables with two separate portable buildings of wooden construction under an ash felt roof. The Nursery provision is separated from the main building by a tarmac road. The coach house has Three fire exits, although two exits are in close proximity. There are three fire extinguishers located near the exits. The building is covered by the alarm system in the main building. The senior block is a single story building, built in 2008, of brick and stone construction under a pitched tiled roof. All classrooms are located off a central corridor with a large hall at one end and toilets at the other end. The fire and burglar alarms are situated off the main entrance. There are two fire exits one from the main entrance and one off the hall at the other end of the building. Fire extinguishers are situated at both of the fire exits. All fire extinguishers are service annually by a service contract. This building is situated on the other side of the school grounds and has its own separate fire alarm system. The fire assembly point for the Junior and Senior buildings is at the rear of the main Manor house building, while the Nursery (EYFS) assembly point is in the back of their area. Materials and equipment used during lessons are covered by risk assessment carried out by the teacher in charge. The laboratories are situated on the top floor of the old Manor House. There are two separate steel fire escapes from these areas, one dedicated to the laboratories, and the other to the ICT room and class rooms off that corridor, fire extinguishers, are located at all fire exits and a fire hose is installed on the main corridor leading to the laboratories. Fire Policy and Risk Assessment June 2018 1
Call point is in the entrance to the building. The flammable materials are kept locked in the preparation room in a metal store. Oxidizing agents are stored away from the flammables. The gas is supplied by rechargeable Bunsen burners. All lessons are covered by a risk assessment which will include the risk of fire where applicable. The Junior School building consists of a three storey building with nine classrooms, staff room, Office, two Laboratories, kitchens and a dining room, and toilets. Fire extinguishers and fire call points are located throughout the building. Nursery is another separate building. It has four main rooms, a soft play area, and a small kitchen area for drinks preparation. A baby changing room and toilet facilities on the ground floor. It has two sleep rooms on the first floor. It has exits from the ground floor in two directions; at least one route is directly to open air. The fire extinguisher and fire call point is located by the main exits. The Junior School, Nursery and Laboratories are each covered by a separate alarm system. See plans for location of fire extinguishers, call points, fire doors and fire exits. Occupancy The school has approximately 90 pupils on roll aged from 4 to 16 years old. Approximately half are seniors, based in the single storeys building, but also accessing laboratories in the main junior building. The other half is based in the old manor house and nursery area but also accessing the, art room and music department (located in the main building). There are approximately 50 teaching and support staff some of whom work part-time. A list of days worked is kept with the pupil registers. All staff sign in and out each day. The log is kept outside the office in the main building in the junior building. Visitors report to the main office, are tagged and are generally escorted around the building. Means of Escape The means of escape is generally in two directions. Where single direction of means of escape is provided, it is within acceptable travel distances. Fire Policy and Risk Assessment June 2018 2
Ignition Sources 1. Electrical 2. Boiler 3. Heating appliances 4. Smoking 5. Arson Smoking Policy There is a No Smoking Policy within all buildings and on school grounds. Evacuation Evacuation exercises are held termly and recorded in the Fire Log Book with evacuation times. The fire alarm is operated in three sections: main building, senior building, and Nursery buildings. The assembly point for the main building and senior building is the back lawn, whereas the assembly point for the other group of buildings is the Nursery playground. The class teachers are responsible for collecting registers and checking all pupils are present. Non-teaching staff and teachers not with a class must report to the fire marshal. No one is allowed back into the building until the fire marshal gives permission. When collecting the registers, the member of staff should collect a school mobile to call the fire brigade in the event of a fire. Housekeeping This is generally good but members of staff should all be vigilant to ensure corridors and stairways are clear of bags and clutter at all times. Fire Safety Management The fire safety management of buildings is generally good. Exits, fire alarms and emergency lighting are checked regularly and recorded in the Fire Log Book. Fire extinguishers are checked every six months by an external contractor. A health and safety fire briefing is carried out by the Accrington fire service, with the maintenance manager, when they visit annually to speak with key stage 1 children. Fire Risk Assessment and Policy are available to staff through the office and other visitors to the site will be made aware of fire safety procedures. Fire Safety Training New members of staff are trained on induction. Regular reviews of fire safety training are included in Inset sessions. The Fire Safety Officer is Mr. Graham Ainsworth.
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Fire Safety Records A Fire Safety Log Book is kept in the school office. Evacuation practices and fire alarm testing are recorded in it. The Fire Risk Assessment and Fire Certificates are also kept in the school office. Arson and Vandalism As the school is situated next door to the Accrington and Rosendale Academy who employ round the clock security guards the instances of vandalism are quite low. The risk of arson is also quite low, we have CCTV to cover the exterior of the main building will also help to reduce the risk. No part of any of the buildings are occupied overnight. Fire Policy and Risk Assessment June 2017-2018 4
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